Cities see continued rise in unemployment

AROUND MISSISSIPPI — Unemployment rates were higher in October than a year earlier in all 372 metropolitan areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Fifteen areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15 percent, while 13 areas registered rates below 5 percent.

Among the 369 metropolitan areas for which non-farm payroll employment was available, 361 areas reported over-the-year decreases in employment.

In October, 124 metropolitan areas reported jobless rates of at least 10 percent, up from 13 areas a year earlier, while 75 areas posted rates below 7 percent, down from 280 areas in Oct. 2008.

All of these rates were well up compared to Oct. 2008. In Oct. 2008, Gulfport/Biloxi’s jobless rate was 5.8 percent, Hattiesburg’s was 5.7 percent, Jackson’s was 5.8 percent and Pascagoula’s was 6.3 percent.